Automatic flow cap



Aug. 1, 1939. s. E. ToBEY AUTOMATIC FLow CAP Filed Dec. 23, 1936 i 1 0 a 7 6 N m L Iii -u l-; .INIHIH ullllhr.- mmmmhmmmmmmmmnvmwmmwmu.

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Patented Ang. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC FLOW CAP Sam .Edson Tobey, Kalamazoo, Mich. Application December 23, 1936, Serial No. 117,321.-

Z-Claims.

. 'I'his invention relates to an automatic flow cap for bottles and the like.

The main objects of this invention are to embody in such a cap a free flowing automatic liquid spreading mean's adapted to be attached to the mouth of the container; in provide such a cap of invertible design for bottles and the like; to

provide a clearing `and cleaning rod for such a device; and to provide a device of this character lu which shall be simple in construction and operation and inexpensive to manufacture. .'Ifhis invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing in which: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bottle with my l5 improved -cap vin its sealing closure position thereon. v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation oi' the cap plug and attached clearing and cleaning rod.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cap with its gg tube and liquid spreading means.

Fig. 4 is mainly an axial section of my improved device in operative position; the bottle being shown in dotted outline with a part broken away.

Figs, 5 and 6 are axial sections of'modified u forms of my improved cap and spreading means.

Here my improved cap and spreader device comprises a cylindrical shell I of Bakelite or the like, provided with internal threads 2 and 3 and a medial transverse wall 4 integral therewith.

.n This wall 4 has a central perforation 5 into which one end of a tube 5 is set. The seating of said tube in said wall may be by any convenient method and means, as by simply wedging or forcing it therein, as shown in Fig. 4. Theother end of g5 tube 6 is provided with a liquidspreading means such as a sponge 1 or the like which-is secured in any convenient manner as by forcing the sponge over the prongs 3 formed on said tube by splitting the end thereof medially and spreading the re- 40 sultant prongs in the manner shown in Fig. 4.

A pocket 9 is provided in sponge 1 adjacent the tubular opening 3'..

A cleaning and clearing rod I0 of smaller diameter than the inner circumference of the tube 6 45 is adapted to be inserted in said tube when the.

device is not in use. One end of this rod is set coaxially in a plug I I which is externally threaded to iit in one end of cap shell I. This plug has an end flange II to overlap the end of shell I to 50 facilitate application of turning force.

In non-use shell I- is threaded onto the usual externally threaded neck I 2 of a bottle I2' by employing the endof said shell containing the threads 2. The tube C will then be ln the bottle.

The rod I3 is then inserted into the tube 6 and the plug lII turned home in the threads 3 of the shell I. 'Ihe device is then in non-use and inoperative or sealed as illustrated in Fig. l.

In adjustment for operation, the plug Il is unscrewed at 3 from the shell and with rod III is 5 Iremoved and laid aside. The shell I` is then also unscrewed from the bottle I2; inverted or turned upside down, and screwed on thebottle by means 'of shell threads 3.

Figure 4 shows the liquid spreading unit ready 10 for operation.- In-use the bottle is grasped in the hand and the sponge 1 applied tothe surface tobe operated upon. In so doing the bottle is tilted so as to cause the liquid in the bottle to flow outwardly therefrom through the tube 6 .to the 15 sponge. When the operator has nished using the device, the shell I is unscrewed and inverted, the tube 6 is inserted in the bottle, and the shell threaded on the neck ofthe bottle. The rod i0 is then inserted in the 4tube 6, forcing all liquid 20 adhering to the walls of the tube back into the bottle, thereby cleaning and clearing the passageway 6. When the plug IIv is screwed into the shell I, employing the shell threads 3, the bottle will be in condition to be transported or laid away with the contents thereof sealed in the bottle.

It will be noted that the rod I0, when in place, extends beyond the lower end of the tube and projects into the pocket 9 of the sponge whereby it 3o insures, upon removal, an ample passageway for the liquid.

Figure 4 shows in shell yI a pair of gaskets I3-I3 one on each side of the partition 4 to insure against leakage. v

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of my invention wherein the shell I' is internally threaded -throughout its length, and the separately formed screw wall 4' having external threads is anchored in place by pinsi4. v K

In the spreading means shown by Fig. 6 a brush I5 is secured to the tube 6 by bending, or spinning, the edge I6 thereof back and then forward upon itself and pressing the edges toward the tube wall where, being set, they hold the bristles of the brush arranged cylindrically on the tube. 'Ihe liquid flowing through the tube then enters the center of the brush. v

It is to be understood that some of the details v set forth may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the inventiongas defined by the following claims. v

1. A bottle closure and liquid dispenser comprising an internally threaded cylindrical shell u to receive the mouth of thevbottle and having a 'perforated medial transverse wall, a tube having one end set in the perforation in said wall and having on its opposite end means adapted for spreading liquid emitted through said tube, in combination with an externally threaded plug to iit in said shell 'and having an elongated cleaning rod mounted centrally therein and adapted to be inserted and housed in said tube when the 10 device is adjusted for non-use.

2. In a device of the class described compris-` 2,1es,179 l ing an internally threaded cylindrical cap for bottles and the like, a wall disposed mediaily across said cap and -having a central discharge feed aperture, an elongated tube one end of which is set in said feed aperture, a liquid-spreading means on'the opposite end of said tube, and a cleaner and stopper element adapted to be inserted in said tube for clearing the passage therein, and to act as a closure for said bottle and tube.

SAM EDSON TOBEY. 

